Month: December 2017

When their family bungalow in the Swampy Woods blows up, the seven Problim siblings, Mona, Toot, Wendell, Thea, Frida, Sal, and Sundae (all born on a different day of the week), are homeless. To make matters worst, sibling Thea keeps seeing sevens and “when you are a Problim and sevens start piling up, trouble is headed in your direction.” But oldest sibling Sundae reminds everyone of the family motto-every Problim is a gift. Thankfully, Sundae recalls seven years ago she buried the deed to their Grandpa Simon’s house, and views this document as their family’s new beginning.

On the very day the Problem children arrive in the town of Lost Cove to move into their Grandpa’s house, Number Seven is up on the auction block. Thump, bump. Desdemona O’pinion, owner of House Number Five, has been impatiently waiting for seven years to purchase Number Seven and does not want the Problim children thwarting her plan. As a compromise, the mayor decides that the siblings have 21 days to produce documentation that they are indeed Problims. If they cannot prove their lineage, Desdemona’s threat to separate them and send them each to a different continent could become a reality. Thump bump.

While the siblings work together to uncover their grandfather’s secret and keep their family intact, one sibling Thea grapples not only with her relationship with her twin Wendell but also with her own identity. I must admit that Thea is my favorite Problim. Always viewing the old phrase “Thursday’s child has far to go” as a negative, Thea learns to think differently. Instead of trying to catch up, perhaps Thea can go anywhere she wants.

The Problim Children is a story that has it all-eccentric yet loveable characters, a family secret, magic, mayhem, a dastardly villianess, and last but certainly not least, over 200 types of toots.* You will laugh, cry, but most of all, cheer for the Problims! Collectively, the siblings teach us “when you are loved, you are never alone.”

Thank you so much Natalie Lloyd for sending an ARC of The Problim Children to my #bookexcursion group. In true Priblim fashion, readers should pile up and pre-order now, for Problim Children will be released in February 2018.

Did you know that tongues can be like a sword, straw, nose, whip or even a windshield wiper? I learned so much from reading Terrific Tongues, an amazing non-fiction picture book which teaches readers fascinating facts about how tongues work in unique ways.

I absolutely love the format of this fabulous text. Maria Gianferrari introduces each animal with an if and a might. For example, if you have a tongue like a mop, you might be a…. (no spoilers). Readers turn the page to discover not only the animal but also a short description of how the animal’s tongue is similar to its comparison.

Jia Liu’s lively illustrations literally jump off the page; I especially love the monkey’s facial expressions and emotions as each new animal is introduced. Readers of all ages will enjoy Terrific Tongues from start to finish. At the end of the book, there are additonal facts about tongues, which will make readers tongue tied in astonishment. Tongues are truly and totally terrific!

A very special thanks to Maria Gianferrari for sending an ARC of Terrific Tongues to my #bookexcursion group. Preorder now, for it releases in April 2018.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading. Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Did you know that tongues can be like a sword, straw, nose, whip or even a windshield wiper? I learned so much from reading Terrific Tongues, an amazing non-fiction picture book which teaches readers fascinating facts about an important organ.

I absolutely love the format of this fabulous text. Maria Gianferrari introduces each animal with an if and a might. For example, if you have a tongue like a mop, you might be a…. Readers turn the page to discover not only the animal but also a short description of how the animal’s tongue is similar to its comparison. Jia Liu’s lively illustrations literally jump off the page; I especially love the monkey’s facial expressions and emotions as each new animal is introduced. Readers of all ages will enjoy Terrific Tongues from start to finish. At the end of the book, there are additional facts about tongues, which will make readers tongue-tied with all the incredible facts!

A very special thanks to Maria Gianferrari for sending an ARC of Terrific Tongues to my #bookexcursion group. Since I sponsor a second grade class for #classroombookaday, I am always in search of nonfiction picture books to read and share with students. Look no further than Terrific Tongues! It publishes in April 2018 so pre-order now to secure your copy!

In the first book of the series, Anna is excited about celebrating her birthday with her best friend Sadie and her dog, Banana. She knows her birthday wish-a trip to Water World. Right before she blows out her candles, Sadie tells Anna to wish for a pony. Because Anna cannot say no to Sadie, she changes her wish at the last minute. Surprisingly, Anna receives a pony necklace from her grandparents, which Sadie now feels is half hers.

Being a good friend, Anna lets Sadie wear the necklace. Not long after, the best friends get into an awful fight with Sadie leaving wearing the necklace. The next day at school, Sadie ignores Anna and acts like their friendship never existed. Anna desperately wants to save their friendship, but she wonders… what if Sadie no longer wants to be friends?

Anna, Banana and the Friendship Split is a realistic story about friendship. Like Anna, I am a pleaser and always want to fix things. With her mom’s help, Anna realizes that sometimes friends need a break from each other, and it is possible to have more than one friend. This is a good lesson for children to learn because all true friendships have their ups and downs. I can’t wait to share the Anna, Banana series with my transitional readers.

Wanting to spread the dog love, Beagles and Books has a new weekly feature by highlighting a literary selection with a canine main character.

Bartelby is a lucky dog. He lives in a bookstore; he loves his home, his walks, and his friends. Bartelby’s only problem is he is very, very long. So long in fact that his walks create mess, calamity, and chaos. Poor Bartelby did not realize that it was his bottom causing all the mayhem. When he discovers his rear is the culprit, he is devastated. Fortunately for Bartelby, he has amazing friends who research and devise a plan to solve his problem.

The Very, Very, Long Dog is such a perfect read aloud! Children will instantly fall in love with adorable Bartelby and feel empathy for him when he discovers his long coming (Oops! I mean shortcoming). Julia Patton’s illustrations are so endearing and charmingly depict Bartelby’s and his friends’ range of emotions throughout the story.

Thanks for visiting Beagles & Books. Have a great week. Happy Reading!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading. Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Being one of five kids living in a cramped city house, Josie Shilling feels invisible. Except for gymnastics, Josie does not have anything that is truly her own.

So when Josie’s college age brother Tom brings home a piglet named Hamlet on Thanksgiving, Josie instantly clicks with the little runt. She convinces her parents to let her keep Hamlet with the stipulation she must find the piglet a home by New Year’s Day.

The Unlikely Story of a Pig in a City will warm both your heart and soul. As the New Year approaches, Josie discovers that her love for Hamlet opens her eyes and mind to her other talents besides gymnastics. As a dog mom, I can totally relate to how my love for my pups changed my life. Josie also comes to realize that her family truly does see her and has and will always be her biggest cheerleader. What powerful messages for readers for all ages!

Special thanks to Jodi Kendall who provided our #bookexcursion group with an ARC prior to The Unlikely Story of a Pig in a City’s October 2017 publication.

Stella Diaz is a third grade student who loves to write stories, draw, and read about marine animals. While she is a very good student, Stella is not confident in her language abilities; as a Mexican American, she accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English and turns roja in embarrassment. This year, school is also more challenging because her best friend Jenny is in another class, which makes Stella feel lonely.

Stella is excited about researching fish for her animal project, but she is nervous about having to present in front of her whole class including the new student Stanley. And it doesn’t help that one of her fellow classmate always picks on her for being quiet. Fortunately, Stella has the support of her mom, older brother Nick, and best friend Jenny to make her realize her strength. As her mom told her, “That’s why your full name is Estrella. You’re my star. You can light up the dark.” Can Stella live up to her name?

Stella Diaz Has Something to Say is such a delightful novel. Children can identify with Stella with a variety of reasons. Her parents are divorced and she has a strained relationship with her father. She is shy and finds it difficult to make friends. I fell in immediately fell in love with Stella and was rooting for her to find her strength. I appreciate the author’s note where Angela Dominquez shares that Stella’s story is 82.9% based on her own childhood and how like Stella, we all must discover our inner starfish. In addition, Dominguez’s black and white illustrations appear throughout the novel and visually enhance Stella’s story.

Special thanks to Angela Dominguez for sharing an ARC of Stella with our #bookexcursion group. Pre-order now, for the book will be released in January 2018.

Wanting to spread the dog love, Beagles and Books has a new weekly feature by highlighting a literary selection with a canine main character.

A little boy want something to take care for on his own. His mom finally relents and permits him to adopt a puppy. Not long after, the boy decides the puppy needs a pet. While the mom thinks this was a terrible idea, the boy empathizes and the puppy gets a pet kitten setting off a chain reaction. The kitten gets a pet bird; the bird gets a pet worm and so on. Mom is not happy. “NO MORE PETS!,” she says. How can the boy fix things and make his mom happy again? Read My Pet Wants a Pet to find out!

My Pet Wants a Pet is an endearing story reminding us that we all want to love and care for something. The charming illustrations adorably show each animal’s loving relationship with its “pet.”

Special thanks to Christian Trimmer and Mark Podesta of Henry Holt Books for Young Readers for sending an ARC to Beagles and Books. Please look for My Pet Wants a Pet in the new year, for it publishes in March 2018.

Etta, Bella, and I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books. Have a great week!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading. Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Blue moons are rare; therefore, it is no surprise that extraordinary things can happen when they occur.

On the night of the blue moon, a boy and his cat take their usual walk through the forest but tonight, their journey is a little different. The boy hears a song first from the blue bells and then from the waves in a lake that magically appears. At the edge of the water, the boy and the cat find a boat. They row to the middle of the lake where the moon becomes within their reach. Remembering that anything can happen on the night of a blue moon, the boy (and the cat too) wish extra hard that they can go to the moon, and magically their wish comes true.

Sara Crowley has written a beautiful story for wishers and dreamers. After reading the last page, it reminds me that that our dreams can become reality if we believe in ourselves. Ashley Crowley’s illustrations are absolutely breaktaking and gorgeous. I especially love that Crowley’s illustrations of the cat hinted that this particular night was going to be special.

Special thanks to Christian Trimmer and Mark Podesta of Henry Holt and Company Books for Young Readers for providing my #bookexcursion group with an Advance Reader’s Edition of The Boy and the Blue Moon. It will be released in February 2018.

Being the younger sister is no fun for Jasmine. Her big sister Sophie always bosses her around and gets to do everything first including rolling mochi balls, a New Year’s tradition with all the women in the family. If she can’t help the women, Jasmine comes up with a new plan; she will join the men in the tradition of pounding the mochi rice.

To prove she is tough enough, Jasmine works on strengthening her arm muscles by washing dishes and hanging on branches. After a run in with her mean cousin Eddie, Jasmine finally appeals to her dad and shares her wishes to pound, not roll mochi. Will her dad agree and let Jasmine break tradition?

I love that Jasmine is an independent thinker and is determined to break the silly rule that only boys can pound mochi. Like Beatrice Zinker, I cannot wait to share the Jasmine Toguchi series with my second grade literacy lunch bunch. Jasmine teaches an important lesson that strength does not come from your arm muscles; it comes from believing in yourself! Looking forward to read Jasmine’s next adventures in Super Sleuth and Drummer Girl!

Wanting to spread the dog love, Beagles and Books has a new weekly feature by highlighting a literary selection with a canine main character.

Mr. Raisin is a grumpy curmudgeon who only likes to sew. One day, a basket appears on his doorstep. When Mr. Raisin opens the basket, he thinks it’s empty until he sees a puppy floating along his ceiling. At first, Mr. Raisin does not wish to keep the dog but then realizes the puppy will float away. He brings the dog inside and slowly develops an affection for the dog, which he aptly names Floaty.

One morning on a walk, Floaty’s leash snaps, and the dog floats away. Mr. Raisin is devastated that his dog disappears into the sky. Finally admitting his fondness for Floaty, he makes several attempts to rescue him which fail. But don’t fret, Mr. Raisin soon realizes the perfect way to bring Floaty home!

Floaty is both a hilarious and heartfelt story that teaches us sometimes the best things in life happen unexpectedly and we must welcome those surprises. John Himmelman’s bold and colorful illustrations convey how Mr. Raisin’s changes in the story and how his love for Floaty grows.

Special thanks to Christian Trimmer and Mark Podesta of Henry Holt and Company Books for Young Readers for providing my #bookexcursion group with a preview copy of Floaty, which will be released in January 2018.

Etta, Bella, and I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books. Have a wonderful week and happy reading!